Looking at the possible purchase of a very low-mileage '87 Trans Am. As of this moment, I can't confirm whether any of the locking lugs are installed on the vehicle because I and the car are in different states; and if the locking lugs are on the rims, I don't know yet whether the lug key is still with the vehicle...

My question is this: are the factory-supplied lug keys universal (i.e., only one key type supplied); or were there multiple lug keys, and one that fits one locking lug set might not fit another? What I'm getting at is I've still got the lug key for my '89 Formula; would that lug key fit the locking lugs on an '87 Trans Am without damaging them, if it becomes necessary?

 

Some different styles of locks from what I have seen, minor differences but the keys don't quite fit. You can get them off with a little ingenuity. You can PM me I'll tell you my method on a couple i have purchased without the key

 

Kind-of what I figured... I wonder what the odds are that the same style of lugs was supplied with both cars...? One in ten...? One in four...?

Before posting this thread I read a few others dealing with that exact topic. Most suggested the cheapest method was to pound a 20mm Craftsman deep socket onto the subject lug and extract it that way. Not a method I'm willing to use straight away, so if you've got a better method, please let me know!

 

They make extraction sockets for this purpose. That's your best cheapest bet

 

Look around in the car for the original locking key code, I got lucky and found it stuck to the inside of the spare tire cover, Called the number and they still had them in stock, Price went up from the $5 on the old sticker to like $30, but it works perfect. no hassles other than waiting for it to arrive.

 

I'll go that route if I've got no alternatives. I'd prefer not to damage the lugs at all, if I can avoid it.

That's a really good thought! I'll have the salesman rummage around to see if he can find it. Thanks!

 

If you dont want to keep the locking lugs, an extractor socket may work,but here is my method.

If it is normally a 19mm head, I have a cheap 18mm 12 point husky socket I use. 21mm nominal diameter, I use my cheap husky 20mm 12 point. Pound the socket over the lug using a cheap impact extension (Pittsburg is my choice here) then one it is firmly seated, give it a blast with the impact, no more than a second. Tap the trigger until the socket starts to slip or the lug comes off.

If the socket slips, pound it back down. This is easier than a lug extractor, faster, and usually works. Sometimes they are stubborn and the olny option is a good sleeve style extractor, in which case just take it to your local tire shop, cheaper than buying a good extractor. The sockets I use for this are cheap, less than $3 a piece, and I dont use them for anything else. This method will toast a good socket, but who cares if it is cheap and replaceable.